After Lisandro Martinez publicly lambasted Manchester United director of football Jason Wilcox, the club has reportedly made a decision about his future
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| Lisandro Martinez's future at Manchester United has reportedly become clearer(Image: Aidan Hunter/Action Plus/Shutterstock) |
Lisandro Martinez will leave Manchester United next summer, according to reports. Martinez, 28, found himself in the headlines when he publicly lambasted United director of football Jason Wilcox.
He specifically earmarked Wilcox after United's 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Martinez blasted him and the club for not signing enough players last summer, saying "I expect more from our technical director" in a jaw-dropping post-match interview.
Martinez was fined by the club before issuing a public apology for the interview. He also held clear the air talks with Wilcox, club CEO Omar Barrada and United manager Michael Carrick.
He is now expected to leave next year. According to the Daily Mail, it's unlikely the 2022 World Cup winner will sign a new contract before his current deal expires in September 2027.
United will be reluctant to let him leave as a free agent, so the club are expected to trigger a 12-month extension in his deal so they can extract a transfer fee next summer.
United are expected to overhaul their defence, in the same way they invested in their attacking line in 2025 and their midfield this year.
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| Martinez blasted Wilcox after United lost to Atletico(Image: AFP via Getty Images) |
There is also uncertainty regarding the futures of club stalwarts Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire. The latter is in a similar position to Martinez, in that his deal expires next summer and the club hold an extension clause in his deal.
The same cannot be said for Shaw, as there is no such clause in his deal, which is also set to expire next summer. United had been in the market for a new left-back and were linked with Newcastle United defender and England international Lewis Hall.
United tested the waters but Newcastle rebuffed any approach from the Reds, insisting Hall was not going anywhere. In regard to central defenders, United do still have Matthijs de Ligt, who has not played since November 30 last year due to a recurring back injury which eventually required surgery.
The Dutchman has been in the squad for United's last two matches, and it's understood the club still see him as a big figure in the dressing room. Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven are both seen as long-term options, but are raw and inexperienced.
Martinez was included in United's starting XI for the 1-1 draw away to Leeds United, but he was taken off at half time with an injury. He has been at the club since the summer of 2022, when he arrived from Ajax in a deal worth £57m.
The Argentine has been important for United, albeit his last two campaigns have been disrupted by a cruciate ligament and a calf injury, which saw him miss dozens of matches.
- Patrick Austen-Hardy
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